If LeBron James signs with the Bulls and plays in Chicago for six years, an estimate indicates that the two-time MVP could bring $2.7 billion to the city.

University of Illinois at Chicago economist John Skorburg says that in order to have that profound of an effect, James would have to win a few titles with the Bulls.

"Chicago has to convince LeBron that he can win championships there," says Paul Swangard, managing director of the University of Oregon's Warsaw Sports Marketing Center. "To maximize his off-court earning potential, it's all about getting rings."

Hosting 10 playoff games a year would generate nearly $5 million at the United Center on tickets, concessions, parking and other spending, Mr. Skorburg estimates.

"We're not a team that's that far away, so I can't sit here and say, 'Yeah, we're going to make all these drastic changes because we're miles away,' " Smith said Monday. "We're not miles away. We're not at the bottom third of our league. We're at the top of our league.

"And with that said, we have to do things diligently and with the understanding of the aspect that we're putting the team-slash-puzzle together and that everything is going to have to fit."

Orlando made it to the NBA Finals last year, but still opted not to retain Hedo Turkoglu, while acquiring Vince Carter. They were eliminated by Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday.

"The season was great," center Dwight Howard said. "We just didn't finish what we started."

Smith made similar comments last spring, claiming he wouldn't shake up the team's roster before he pulled the strings that ultimately landed Turkoglu in Toronto and Carter in Orlando.

Suns forward Amar'e Stoudemire expects to be a part of the upcoming NBA free-agent superstar summit.

Stoudemire, who will likely opt out of the final year of his contract, told FanHouse that he expects to join in talks with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson before free agency begins on July 1.

Rajon Rondo and Rasheed Wallace were limited during Boston's practice on Monday.

Rondo dealt with muscle spasms during the Eastern Conference Finals against Orlando, while Wallace had back issues in the final two games of the series.

"Rondo felt pretty good, he went 75-80 percent of practice," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "Rasheed is not right yet, he did the skeleton offense stuff, but other than that, we didn't allow any contact. So if we have a concern right now with anybody, [Wallace] would be the only one."

The Knicks are attempting to determine how much actual influence William Wesley holds over LeBron James.

Depending on who is talking, Wesley is either on the periphery or hold great power.

?Wes is the best insider in knowing people. Wes has an affinity for people and they just like him,? longtime Adidas sneaker king Sonny Vaccaro said. ?He can do anything, but what he has to do with this decision is unclear because of LeBron?s Akron friends.?

?Always worrying about the team and stuff like that is something you have to do during the season, and I?m 100 percent with that. But now it?s about me and my family and what?s best for us. I?ve expressed throughout the season that I?ve loved my time here and would love to return. But I think I know more than anybody that this is a business. The organization has to do what?s best for the team. Hopefully, I impressed them enough to bring me back and give me something decent, but we?ll have to wait and see about that.?